Govt to buy 400MW/year under waste-to-energy plan
Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow highlighted the national blueprint to generate electricity from waste as the Cabinet toured Phuket on Tuesday.
Phuket is at the forefront of the ministry’s renewable-energy plan to purchase up to 400 megawatts of waste-generated power per year from 2022.
The holiday island has two waste incinerator plants – a 2.5MW municipal facility and a 12MW plant built by PJT Technology. The municipal plant is currently offline while approval is sought for the private sector to join its management.
Under the Power Development Plan, the Energy Ministry will issue feed-in tariffs for waste-generated electricity next year, and purchase up to 400MW in 2022, said Supattanapong.
“The move will help strengthen Thailand’s energy security and protect the environment, especially in tourist areas with waste-management and environmental issues,” he added.
The island’s waste-disposal centre has seen a 13.5 per cent drop in solid waste this year after international tourism was suspended at the end of March.
